Looking for a new Harlem restaurant recommendation? Try Maison Harlem

If you’re looking for a new dining option in Harlem, here is a recommendation! Try Maison Harlem, located on the northwest corner of 127th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. The French bistro opened in Harlem three weeks ago and it already has received a shot out in The New York Times.

We went by Maison Harlem this past weekend for dinner and was pleasantly surprised by the place. First, Maison Harlem is very easy to get to. Take the AC BD Subway line to 125th. Get out of the 127th Street exit and you’re right there. Second, the decor of the place is very lovely. The place is filled with dark wood every where and has lots of windows that look out making it spacious. It appears it can seat up to 75 people or more. And last, the ambiance was incredible for only being open three weeks. Maison Harlem was packed with a diverse group of patrons and we went early to dine, say 7ish. I couldn’t believe how many people were there dining and drinking at the bar.

As for the food, it was delicious, but be prepared to eat meat. If that’s not your thing, you may want to hang out at the bar for drinks. The dishes I devoured were very rich and creamy, but that’s what you get with French cuisine. I had the Frisee Salad with crispy bacon and a poached egg. If you like fancy bacon, this is the place for you. The Frisee Salad had big cubed pieces of bacon on it making the dish slightly salty and tasty. For an entrĂ©e, I tried the Tagliatelle Carbonara. This dish has a creamy sauce, more bacon, and a raw egg left in a half shell. The pasta dish was fun and different to eat because you had to take the raw egg out of its shell, whisk it up and mix in the pasta. And for desert, I had the Pina Colada Parfait. This was a light tasting desert and much-needed after I O.D. on fancy bacon. The service was fair, but a tad off. I chalk this up to the place being brand new and the staff working on their groove. I am confident the service will improve.

Overall, I am definitely going back to Maison Harlem. This place is going to have the same people watching/ambiance crowd that Red Rooster Harlem and Corner Social have. Maison Harlem is positioned to offer up a good time and a delicious meal. It has location, good food and ambiance. Can’t ask for more than that. Check it out soon!

Maison Harlem
341 St. Nicholas Avenue (127th Street)
212-222-9224/212-222-9220

Savann Turkish Restaurant coming to Harlem, joining restaurant row

The restaurant scene on Harlem’s restaurant row is about to get more diverse. A very reliable source and long time reader passed along some juicy info! Apparently, the sponsor of 2280 Frederick Douglass Condominium, you know the place that was rumored to be in discussion with Busboys and Poets, but passed on sealing the deal with the DC-based chain, has recently signed a lease with the owners of Savann, a turkish restaurant that use to be located on the upper west side. This new Harlem restaurant will keep the same name and the menu will be similar, according to a source on the restaurant side familiar with the lease. Savann will rent part, not all, of the retail/commercial space that is near Harlem Flo.

If you are not unfamiliar with the former Savann, read here for more info.

And stay tune, Savann Turkish Restaurant plans to open in late 2013!

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New hardware store opens on Lenox Avenue in Harlem

A reader sent in information this week saying there is a new hardware store on 119th and Lenox Ave and it is open for business. Mr. Shakir Thanawala is the managing director of the new hardware store on 170 Lenox Avenue. Feel free to stop by and let him know about your hardware needs! And a big thanks to the reader for passing along the information and photo! Very much appreciated!

Harlem’s Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar to host ‘Gay-borhood Mixer’ November 12

Harlem is a very diverse community that is inclusive of all people. Lido Harlem, located on the southeast corner of 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., enjoys and succeeds at serving up fine dishes  to all walks of life.  They recognize-and I agree with them-there appears to be a growing presence of the gay community in South Harlem. To cater to this particular demographic, they are hosting their first Harlem LGBT Community Mixer on November 12 from 9 pm to 11 pm with an extended happy hour that will feature drink specials!

I raise my glass to Lido Harlem for organizing this mixer.  We all know they are not the first to cater to the gay community in Harlem. Billies Black, Natives Restaurant and more have always catered and welcomed the LGBT Community of Harlem long before most of us moved here. However,  for Lido Harlem to do this, I say why not and go for it!

Gay-Borhood Mixer
November 12, 2012  |  9pm-11pm
Lido Harlem
2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd @ 117th
646.490.8575

Here is your list of where to watch the Presidential Election results in Harlem!

There are several places in Harlem that are holding election night parties tonight, November 6! Click on the links below to get more details. And have a great time tonight. The establishments are:

Sylvia’s Restaurant at 318 Lenox Avenue (Corner of 126th Street)

Melba’s Restaurant on 114th Street and FDB

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at 515 Lenox Avenue. Schomburg’s 2012 Presidential Election Watch Party will feature special guest commentators: Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Grace Aneiza Ali, Monifa Bandele, William Jelani Cobb, Michaela angela Davis, and Dorian Warren.

Red Rooster Harlem at 310 Lenox Avenue

Corner Social at 126th Street and Lenox Ave

Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar. Lido Harlem will be offering patriotic drink specials! Location is 2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd  and 117th

Harlem Tavern at 116th Street and FDB

Harlem Food Bar on FDB between 113th and 114th Street

Creole Restaurant at 2167 Third Avenue. RSVP is required to attend

Speakers at Schomburg

Listen up Harlem, go vote November 6


The big day is near. Tomorrow, November 6 is election day. It is time of us to go to the voting booths to cast our vote! If you’re a registered voter and not sure where to go to cast your ballot, use New York City’s Board of Elections (BOE) Polling Locator. It will tell you where to go by typing in your building number and street name. The BOE also has an app that will allow you to find your voting poll. Go here to download the app.

Most of us online have been expressing our political views for weeks. I know I have. The day is here where it’s now time for us to do the walk, not just talk. Get out and vote tomorrow! See you at the voting booth!

See photos of long lines at gas stations along 145th Street in Harlem

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Soon after I blogged about the Harlem gas station on 110th Street and FDB posting a sign saying “no gas,” comments have come strolling in on Facebook and via email. At 9 pm this evening (November 1), a reader sent in pictures of what’s happening at the gas stations along 145th Street between Lenox Avenue and FDB. According to the reader, the lines for gas are four to five blocks long and for one Shell station near Pathmark at 145th Street, the line of cars extend around the corner to FDB then down three blocks to 142 Street. The reader also states police are detouring traffic across 145th St. because of the long gas lines.

For several days now, the main stream media has been reporting that gas supplies are limited and can’t be delivered due to the port of NYC being closed. The result is long gas lines everywhere. And people are also buying fuel for generators. Take a look at the photos the reader sent in. And a big thank to the reader for keeping us informed on the gas situation!

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Sign says ‘no gas’ at Harlem gas station

On 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., did anyone notice the BP gas station on the northeast corner already has a sign up that says “no gas?” This particular gas station is always busy so not too surprised by this. It is where most taxi and/or gypsy cabs in the area fuel up. Hope this place is able to get gas soon. I’ve already experienced a cab telling me they can’t take me somewhere ’cause they have no gas! Has anyone else had this experience recently with a cab?

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A look back in photos at this year’s East Harlem Harvest Festival

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East Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest Festival
East Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest Festival

On October 27, the business community of East Harlem organized their first Harlem Harvest Festival. I attended and had a fabulous time from drinking SugarHill Beer for FREE (Yum), to watching to 212Green perform and walking up and down La Marqueta trying out the different food treats. It was a wonderful time at the East Harlem Harvest Festival and glad to hear the organizers plan on doing this a couple of times a year! Given that, I definitely plan to head back!

Seasoned Vegan signs lease at 55 St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem, aims to open January 2013


The owners of Seasoned Vegan recently notified their KickStarter backers via email that “after much hard work, preparation and long anticipation” they have signed a lease for restaurant space at 55 St. Nicholas Avenue, right at the corner of 113th Street. The note states they “used the money from KickStarter for the down payment… and that they plan to open at their new location in Harlem in January 2013.”

Congrats to Brenda and Aaron. As always, looking forward to another dining option in Harlem.